Writers’ book giveaway

One of the most common pieces of advice given to writers is “Write!” Another is “Read!”

I’m currently readingSave the Cat,by Blake Snyder, which is a book aimed at screenwriters, but applies to fiction writers in general. It’s interesting to see the techniques screenwriters use to create their characters and scenes without any words for the reader to take in. With so much emphasis on “show, don’t tell,” clearly these skills should become part of our writers’ toolkits as well. I also have Stephen King’s On Writing prepped on my bedstand for another read-through as the New Year begins.

What I’d like to suggest is that you also read about writing, so that you learn some of the tools of the trade. I’ll even make it easy for you. For each of the next five weeks, I’ll give some lucky reader/writer a book about writing. The books I have to give away are:

While these books may not be hot off the press, they still have many valuable lessons for writers. Character development, writing interesting scenes, and studying where your fingers find energy for creation are always in style.

So if you’re interested in a chance at one of these books, leave a comment at my blog, and a random comment will be selected each week as a winner! If you aren’t chosen in any given week, try again the following week. Pass on the opportunity to your other writer friends, too. When any of us gets published, we all win. Good writing and good luck!

What a great thing to do. Btw, I’ve heard that Stephen King’s “On Writing” is a great book. I have a book that I’m working on, but I don’t “work on it” not sure what my problem is…. But I do love to read, at least… I’m currently reading The Fountainhead and looking forward to staying home in the snow (it is going to snow today in Boston) and read..

Happy new year to you and your family.
Thank you for many good and interesting articles at you blog, and for many posetive comments at mine. I´m looking foreward to the comming blog year, with you at my bogroll.

I couldn’t agree more – reading as much as one can about writing is an invaluable way of learning and getting tips. I’d love to win one of your books – I have Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ too and it was a fascinating read as well as a source of information.